# exchange

/ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ (US) · /ɛkstʃˈeɪndʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exchange
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. giving and receiving

noun · CEFR B1

the act of giving something to someone and receiving something else from them.

For teachers: the act of giving or taking one thing in return for another; a reciprocal transfer.

- The two countries signed an agreement for the exchange of students and teachers.
- The cultural exchange programme aims to foster mutual understanding by allowing young professionals to live and work in diverse environments.

### 2. a conversation

noun · CEFR B2

a short conversation or an argument between people.

For teachers: a verbal interaction or dialogue, often characterized by a specific tone or purpose.

- After a brief exchange of ideas, the team decided on a new plan.
- The heated exchange between the two politicians was captured by reporters waiting outside the briefing room.

### 3. finance/trading

noun · CEFR B2

a place where people trade stocks or foreign money.

For teachers: a central marketplace or institution where securities, commodities, or currencies are traded.

- He works as a trader on the London Stock Exchange.
- Fluctuations on the foreign exchange market can have immediate and profound effects on the cost of imported raw materials.

### 4. to swap

verb · CEFR B1

to give something to someone and get something else in return.

For teachers: to give and receive reciprocally; to substitute one thing for another.

- I need to exchange this shirt for a larger size because it is too small.
- The delegates exchanged business cards before the keynote speech began, hoping to network during the subsequent lunch break.

### 5. to direct at each other

verb · CEFR B2

to say or do things to each other, like looks or words.

For teachers: to mutually direct words, looks, or gestures at one another.

- They exchanged worried looks when they heard the loud noise.
- The two rivals exchanged sharp remarks during the debate, each attempting to undermine the other's credibility with the audience.

## Examples

- The two countries signed a trade exchange agreement.
- The exchange of information between the two departments helped the project finish ahead of schedule.
- While the initial exchange of pleasantries was brief, the subsequent negotiation over the contract terms lasted several hours and required multiple legal revisions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.